Greg Hinz On Politics

Officials kick off first phase of Red Line north fix-up

Local officials Friday announced details of the first phase of a $1 billion overhaul of the Red Line's north end.

It's not enough. Officials don't have the additional billions needed for a total reconstruction of the line north of Wilson Avenue. But this will help. The $1 billion project was first announced last November.

At a press conference at the Morse Avenue L stop in Rogers Park, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Gov. Pat Quinn, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the first chunk of cash will go for an $86 million spruce-up of the Morse stop and six others: Jarvis, Granville, Thorndale, Berwyn, Argyle and Lawrence.

Beginning in coming weeks, all seven will see viaduct repairs, platform repairs or replacement, station waterproofing, improved lights and rebuilt station houses. The idea is to improve not only the look of the stops — many are in a sad state — but also to increase safety.

"The Red Line is the heart of the CTA rail network," Mr. Durbin said. "These upgrades and improvements will put Chicago in the position to continue providing world-class mass transit services."

Similar sentiments came from the mayor and the governor, as well as the two area congressmen: Evanston's Jan Schakowsky, and Chicago's Mike Quigley, both Democrats.

The remaining $900-million-plus is slated for a variety of other projects, including a $200 million complete reconstruction of the Wilson stop, "major station rehabs" at Sheridan, Bryn Mawr and Loyola, upgraded electrical substations and extensive viaduct work as far north as Central Avenue in Evanston.

About $702 million will come from the Illinois Jobs Now program, with $256 million from the feds and $44 million from the CTA.

Today's announcement comes as Congress continues to wrestle with a new road and transit funding bill that has sparked huge divisions in Washington.

The matter is now in a Senate/House conference committee on which Mr. Durbin serves, and the area could use additional funds not only for the Red Line north, but to extend it south to the city limits.